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Mas Amiel is the leading independent producer in Maury, a small region within the boundaries of the much larger Rivesaltes appellation. There are only a handful of such independent vignerons, with the local co-operative controlling most of the Maury vignoble. This particular domaine originated in 1816 when Raymond Amiel won the deeds to the property from the Bishop of Perignan in a game of cards. Sadly, for the church at least, there was no divine intervention on the night. The bishop left, fleeced of what could have been a prime source of communion wine, and Mas Amiel was born.
At that time there was little viticulture at the estate, but after Phylloxera the vineyards were replanted. Thanks to financial difficulties Mas Amiel was sold in to Charles Dupuy in 1910, and both Dupuy and his son Jean did much to improve quality at the estate. The next generation, also Charles, continued their work but after his death in 1997 the estate was sold to Olivier Decelle. Decelle now has a 155-hectare estate at his disposal, divided into two sections. Behind the cellars lie 75 hectares, on slopes up to 150 m altitude, whereas 80 hectares lie further north. The vines are aged, on average, over 35 years.
"Perhaps the best wine in the world to serve with quality dark chocolate, this 15-year-old blend of grenache, maccabeu and carignan shows a residual sugar of 90g/l and an alcohol content of 16.5%, though all you will taste when you sip a glass is the beautiful fruit and balancing oxidative notes. A bit like a tawny port, this dessert wine is not at all cloying. Amber colored, with aromas of fig jam, cocoa, cumin and tobacco. On the palate it is generous, full and rich, but also bright and somehow very vivacious, even after all these years."
Nurtured in oak for 15 years.
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